Episode 37: Mourning Mothers: The Horrific Secrets of Dr. Hicks

Authors: Madilynn Kilgore and Joey GagorikDescription: In this new episode, we take a dive into the case of the Hicks Baby Clinic. Dr. Thomas Hicks was an important figure in Mcayesville, Georgia in the 1940s. He was the town’s doctor and took care of most of the residents. However, Hicks was a selfish man who fell prey to his greed. When illegal abortions weren’t paying enough to satisfy his hunger for money, he turned to a much more sinister practice. Hicks would steal babies from their mothers, often lying that they had died during birth. Out of the back door of his clinic he would sell these babies to anyone who wanted them. He families apart, broke the trust of the town, and took advantage of these, often young and poor, mothers. Join us as we uncover how his business came to be and analyze one of his victims–an adoptee named Melinda Elkins-Dawson. With this new story we hope to shed light on all affected by Dr. Hicks' crimes and hold him accountable for the unspeakable acts he has committed. Sources:https://www.hulu.com/series/taken-at-birth-990aae44-5cee-4960-bdb3-ecbb303996d3Links to an external site.https://www.wkyc.com/article/news/finding-terry-hicks-baby-leader-never-quit/95-070bd534-a8d1-4f0f-9091-e323b655285dLinks to an external site.https://www.nytimes.com/1997/08/23/us/town-secret-is-uncovered-in-birth-quest.htmlLinks to an external site.https://www.aetv.com/real-crime/hicks-clinic-stolen-babiesLinks to an external site.https://abcnews.go.com/US/hicks-baby-adoptee-sold-georgia-doctor-50-years/story?id=32743492